Carl Hutzler’s Blog

4:30am - Beep Beep Beep Beep, damn
5:00am - Rice Crispies (big bowl) and two hard boiled eggs with a lot of salt

At the finish: Juli Schneller, Carl Hutzler and Dick Schneller

Pre-race waiting (from the left) Dave Schwab, Dick Schneller, Juli Schneller, and Carl Hutzler

5:30am - Arrive at the Schneller’s to caravan to West Falls Church Metro
6:30am - Metro
7:30am - Get off at the Pentagon and walk around to the North Parking lot
8:00am - Take care of some business, meet up with Dave from Octagon Sports Management (Dicks’ work friend). Dave ran the Army 10 miler 2 weeks ago and is going to run a marathon today (he has never run more than 10 miles)
8:15am - Walk another half mile or so to the start area under Memorial Bridge on RTE 110.
8:20am - Wheelchairs and Cranks start!
8:35am - First wave of runners (1 thru 16,000) start!
8:50am - Last wave of runners (16,001 to 31,000+) are delayed! A guy collapsed 80 meters into the race and ambulance is in the road helping.
9:02am - Finally, we are running. It is slow going and very crowded. But, we are running.

The energy level at the beginning of the race was amazing. Tons of people cheering us on, bands playing and people high-fiving the runners. It was fun. We got up the first hill without too much problem and then started down Spout Run and onto the GW Parkway. I felt great and was just trotting along and chatting with some folks.

We headed over the key bridge and into Georgetown. I felt really good and was running well ahead of my expectations. There is something about race day which just gets your body and spirit going faster. Then I saw Stu Brandt on the South side of M street. He initially did not see me and then a second before I gave him a big bear hug he realized who it was. Very cool. I would see Stu another three times during the race!

Next was the Rock Creek. We headed about 2 miles up and then back. More bands playing and tons of people cheering. Even a few spectators playing the drums for us. Spectators rocked! They kept your mind and eyes on things other than the task at hand. I did not even realize I had gone 9 miles! At the end of Rock creek, there was Stu again! Yeah Stu.

Then we ran down under the Kennedy Center and onto the Mall. The number of people on the mall was unbelievable. It was packed and the race was often squeezed down to 3 runners across by the crowds. I caught up to Ms. Piggy and Kermit the Frog. I stayed with them and was in a bunch of photographs for 4 miles or so. I would see them on/off until Crystal City or so. Kermit was running with a felt suit covering his head. Must have been stinkin’ hot inside. I don’t even know how he could see!

We rounded the bend in front of the Capitol and started West down the mall. In front of the Air and Space Museum (approx) we hit the half way point. And there was Stu! God bless him. He gave me a few positive words and encouraged me to keep going. I punched him in the gut (like guys do), but a bit harder than I intended. Oh well, he is tough.

We continued down to the tidal basin and around the Jefferson. Then onto Hains point. Hains point is 2 miles down and back and it is a lonely part of the run. Very few fans. And it is long. And you are tired. I did OK. We rounded the awakening, and I kept my pace pretty much. I stayed with some girl from Alaska pretty much down and back.

Got to the 14th street bridge and the crowds were back. It was great to see people again and hear the cheering. There was Stu again. I started wondering if there was >1 of him. The bridge started OK but was open and exposed. It was sunny and windy. And the bridge seemed to go on forever. I was getting tired.

I was also feeling a little sick to my stomach…nothing too bad, but I knew some mix of Powerade, oranges, Gels, and Mojo Bars was not working. I grabbed some goldfish (salt!) from a spectator and tried them. They were dry. Yuk. I forced them down and tried doing one at a time with the goldfish. That worked better. I started feeling better.

Crystal City. Long. Feeling tired. Wanted it to be over. But kept up the pace and the 5 min run/1 min walk. They had a festival going in Crystal City with bands, moonbounces, food, etc. Pretty cool (for the spectators).

Back up through Crystal City and under I395 to the Pennygone, then onto RTE 27. At mile 24 or so I was starting to get a cramp in my left leg quadriceps. It was not too bad so I kept going. It got worse and I stopped running for a couple of minutes and just walked. Got some water and tried running again and it was (thankfully) better. I could feel it was not perfect, but it was happy for the moment. I ran harder to change the rhythm and see if that helped. Guessing I needed salt or maybe potassium or something. I drank tons of water and Powerade all day. But I did not need to pee that much. When I finished the race I had to pee constantly. So not sure what was out of whack, but I will find out.

Anyway, got to mile 26 and was doing a little slower pace at just over 12 min miles. Then at the very end you had to go up a steep hill at the Iwo Jimo monument for the last 0.2 miles! That was rough. I told a couple of marines how this was just their way of testing us. They laughed.

I felt pretty good at the finish. A bit wobbly and tired. But I got my medal and then sat down to rest and eat some stuff. My friends Dick and Julie finished a few mins later and we met for a photo before meeting up with Rylan, Jake and Anna some carbs at Chipotle in Rosslyn.

Overall, I don’t know how I got into this whole marathon thing. Before April 2006, I had never run more than a mile in my life. But I discovered I like to run. It is fun. It requires just about no “special equipment”. And it is damn good for your cardio.

I’d like to thank all the Marines and other volunteers who organized this 31st marathon. It was perfectly run from start to finish. It was moving to know that the Marines in Iraq had run a sister marathon just hours before we ran ours. And lastly, I can honestly say it was one the most fun and memorable experiences I have had in my life. Semper Fi!